Jinyoung set the dishes onto the table, the miyeokguk’s waft filling in the air.

“Come and eat, Iseul!” Jinyoung sat down and waited for Iseul to sit across from him. After they had said thanks, Jinyoung’s phone started to ring, making Iseul pause his chopsticks in mid-air.

“Continue eating, Iseul.” Jinyoung smiled and left him to answer the call. Jinyoung picked up his phone from his bed and looked at the ID quickly.

Sooyoung…

“Hello?” Jinyoung said at the phone and closed his bedroom door. He didn’t want Iseul to hear his conversation with his aunt, especially when it was about him leaving Jinyoung.

“Hello? Jinyoung?”

“Yes, it’s Jinyoung. What is it, aunt?”

“I’m calling you to talk about Iseul…”

“Aunt, I don’t have the time for this.” Jinyoung told her quite harshly and scrunch his eyebrows in distress.

“Jinyoung, you have to take a break!”

“Aunt, you need to understand Iseul and my relationship! We only have each other and you can’t take Iseul away from me, no matter what!”

“Jinyoung, listen!” His aunt yelled and Jinyoung shut up, feeling the displeasure in her voice. “I know Iseul has been putting stress on you lately. I can even hear it in your voice.”

“Aunt…” Jinyoung rubbed his temple and sat down on the bed.

“Jinyoung...Please let me take care of Iseul for you.” His aunt suggested and Jinyoung heaved a sigh.

“I’m sorry aunt...I can’t.” And without telling his aunt, he hung up. Jinyoung didn’t immediately stand up to go and eat with Iseul though. He didn’t feel like eating. His appetite was taken away by his worries.

I just hope aunt won’t take Iseul by force…

But Jinyoung knew that Sooyoung was the type of person to do that. He couldn’t do anything. He could only stand and watch the scene like he did at his parent’s funeral.

After sending Iseul to the daycare, he walked towards the school building. Footsteps sounded behind him but he didn’t have the energy to turn around. He was too into his thoughts to even worry about them.

“Hey.”

Jinyoung swung his head and stared at Jaebum, who was also staring at him.

“O-Oh. Hey.” Jinyoung stuttered and looked straight ahead.

Why Jaebum of all people!? And especially at this time…

Jinyoung straighten his posture, trying not showing the uneasiness flowing out of him.

“U-Um…” Jinyoung started.

“Why are you sad?” Jaebum asked. The worry was clearly heard in his voice and Jinyoung felt warmhearted, suddenly feeling like there was someone there for him.

“I’m not sad.”

“Your shoulders were slumping before. You don’t need to hide it, Jinyoung.” Jaebum told Jinyoung and Jinyoung felt his heart lightening up.

“Nah, probably because you were far away and mistook it as that.” Jinyoung smiled timidly.

Why does Jaebum care anyways…? It’s not like we were childhood friends or long-term school friends...

“That could be…” Jaebum mumbled but he sounded unsure. Jinyoung didn’t want Jaebum to worry about him. He was sure that Jaebum had other things to worry about other than him, a poor and desperate man trying to get a living with a four year old.

I should probably avoid him in the future so he wouldn’t be involved in my problems.

This would sound easy, but Jinyoung had other concerns to deal with himself. He couldn’t stop thinking, even when they arrived in their classroom.

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